Best Two Lenses For Shooting Mountain Bike Races With Canon 1D X Mark ii

If you could choose two lenses for shooting mountain bike races with a 1DX Mark ii, which would they be? I take a lot of photos from a distance of 5' to 50' away. I'm guessing a 70-200 and a 35 or 50 prime? Curious to see what you guys think...

70-200 2.8 and 24-70 2.8 would be my choices.

I agree! The combination of 70-200mm and 24-70mm would be the most versatile...

What kind of race? Enduro, XC, DH?

Personally, I really like the look of the ultra-wide shots you see a lot on the enduro and DH courses these days. I don't think it would work quite as well for the XC races, however, since the action is very different.

I think it also depends on the setup of the course and/or where you can shoot. If there are long sight lines, then obviously the 70-200 f/2.8 is a great choice. But if you're in the forest where the sight lines are much shorter, then something like the 16-35 and 24-70 would be a better combo.

It's XC. Sometimes I'm able to set up in wide open spaces. Some times I'm tight in the woods. I'm thinking the 70-200 2.8 plus a wide lens for the woods. Which of the two wide lenses would you buy if you could only buy one of the two you mention?

70-200, definitely! I'd lean toward the 24-70 over the 16-35 myself but that's because I'm inexperienced in wide shots (and 24mm isn't bad at all already). I got my 16-35 only recently.

For XC racing, I'd lean towards the 24-70. It'll be more useful, as I don't think there are as many interesting angles to be had with XC racing and an ultra-wide like the 16-35mm. It'll be a great lens to have around the "pits" for the before and after shots as well.